Am I reverent enough?

I was driving into work today and drove past a glorious brick Anglican church and then a similar Catholic church with crosses all over it. They seemed so (yes - conservative), respectful and the word that came to my mind was "reverent".

I wondered about our church (held in a public school hall) and how it's really casual etc.

Then I realised that the 'church institution' is not a sign of reverence.

Living day to day life in a godly manner. Simple interactions with people and showing Gods love. Doing what God wants you to do. That is reverence.

Another lesson concluded in my learnings! A small one...but important I think.

What am I afraid of?

I get scrared. Fearful.

Not of things like spiders and cockroaches. Of things like: will my marriage survive? Will the baby be OK? Will I be ashamed?

But what should I really fear? Losing my faith? Dieing and facing Jesus? If in my heart I don't fear either of these things then I truely have nothing to fear. Nothing to worry about!

I now understand I can choose to fear worldy things, or I can learn to fear God. I always used to think that was a bad part of christianity, but now realise its one of the best bits!

Forgiven not forgotten

Here I am, I say to the Lord...now what???

life has been a bit bumby lately and I had to take the advice i have been hearing without hearing...."retrace your steps to when you first felt the abscence of God, somewhere along the line you got distracted, you were disobedient, you forgot who you are in Christ and now you wander around in the wilderness feeling alone"

I can hear Paul say "the thorn in my flesh" testimony..it just wont go away....buit instead of relying on the Lords grace for my strength I impatiently seek him with a sorrowful heart asking where to from here??
But Myles blog gave me the answer to this endless pursuit of God without answers....
"drawn unto me and I will draw unto you"

He also reminded me that the Lord loves me and has forgotten my transgressions so i need to stop condemning myself with every failure, which is bizzarre because this was one of my favourite scriptures, but somehow I forgot all about it.
" so far is the east is from the west..So far have i removed your sins from you"

Thanks for reminding me again who I am in Jesus!!!

A sinner saved!!!

Reading the bible - got some God questions

I am reading the bible in a year thanks to my XDA II mini PDA and the e-sword software. I am reading the simpler contemporary english version (CEV) which makes reading it a lot easier!

Anyway while reading it I got a couple of questions people may be able to help me with:

• why are God's words not in red letter, while Jesus' are?
• God seems to do a lot of speaking direct to people in the Old Testament, but does he speak direct to people (Genesis 46:2 - wow!) in the New Testament (or does Jesus do all the talking)?

church

in response to my beautiful man's post yesterday about church...i can do 3 of the things on his list but there is one that I have always struggled with... his 3rd reason for why he goes to church. So the LORD can give me a message or so the LORD can speak to me.

What if 90% of the time I don't receive any messages from church that apply to my every day life, that teach me, challenge me...then I have to question am I planted in the right church?

I have prayed about it. I know how important it is to keep a good attitude when it's not about you. So I use the other resources in my life to learn and grow - my bible, teaching tapes, other church services, conferences, Joyce Meyer, christian books, and our 40 days sessions.

Our church is over a year old now...and I can probably count on one hand the number of sermons that I could apply to my life, that changed me and have helped me in my life struggles.

I have lasted this long at church because of our 40 days group. Our group was challenging and helped me to grow at a crucial time in my marriage and personal relationships.

But i know church is relevant for Myles and if this is where the LORD wants me to be then I will stay. If this is where Myles is learning than I will just have to keep using all the other resources the LORD has given me so I can keep growing.

But then I also know what it is to belong to a church that motivated me, and equiped for the week ahead 90% of the time. The LORD was so alive to me and 100% relevant to me and my every day life. I have been spoilt.

I am hoping this is just a season that will pass...and I just have to persevere.